Friday, June 24, 2011

Front paw-l: Mog the cat swims around Hawksland hydrotherapy pool, near Wadebridge, Cornwall, as part of his rehabilitation after being hit by a car

A cat paralysed after being hit by a car is learning to walk again - by taking swimming lessons.

Mog the grey tabby lost the use of his front two legs but is slowly learning to use them again in a hydrotherapy pool normally used by more enthusiastic dogs.

He strikes an amusing figure in the pool as he meows loudly and makes gurgling sounds as he paddles around.

Are we done yet? Ros Boisseau leads Mog through a swimming session. She said: 'He makes a lot of noise about it.'

Mog can now bear his own weight on his front two legs after ten lessons in the pool.

Owner Veronica Ashworth said Mog initially looked 'horrified' when she was brought to the hydrotherapy centre in St Issey, Cornwall.

But she soon leapt in with a bit of encouragement by Mrs Ashworth, from Lostwithiel, Cornwall.

She said: 'I know it's quite unusual for cats to swim but he's such a character.

'Most cats do anything to avoid water, but he seems to really like swimming in the pool. He takes it quite seriously.

'Now he can do circuits of the pool, he makes a lot of noise about it but he does it.

'He does a sort of funny doggy paddle, it's hilarious to watch. I think he realises it is doing him good.

'He has always liked water, and used to hang round the bath and wash basin.

Worse for wear: Mog the cat after the car accident which left him with no feeling in his front two legs. Owner Veronica Ashworth was told he would never walk again

'He's such an extrovert that when there were some students in watching him swim he was really showing off.

'The therapy is working and there's definitely improvement.'

Mog sustained horrific injuries and spent six weeks on a drip after a car smashed into him in a hit-and-run incident in February.

The one-year-old did not break any bones in the smash - but suffered nerve damage which left his two front legs completely paralysed.

Mrs Ashworth, 62, was told her pet would never walk again and watched as he slowly learned to move by pushing himself along with his back legs. He could also only sit up on his hind legs - like a Meerkat - as he could not put any weight on his damaged front legs.

A local vet suggested that hydrotherapy classes with could help.

'Hilarious': Mog is said to have made amazing progress after ten hydrotherapy lessons

He has now been attending the £30 sessions for ten weeks and has made has made a 'vast improvement', according to Mrs Ashworth.

Trainer Ros Boisseau said Mog was the first cat she had ever treated at the centre and she was 'amazed' with by his progress.

She said: 'The first time I put him in the water he looked at me in horror but I told Veronica to call him and then he meowed at her and struck out across the pool to her.

'By using and stretching out his legs he is slowly regaining the strength in them.

'He really is amazing. I've never treated a cat with hydrotherapy before - cats don't tend to like swimming.